JEAN-Paul Duminy struck a superb 99 as the Cape Cobras opened their campaign in the Champions League Twenty20 with a five-wicket win over the Royal Challengers in Bangalore.

The Challengers had seemed to have half the battle won when Robin Uthappa (51) and Ross Taylor (53 not out) hammered half-centuries to power the home side to a formidable 180 for four.

Praveen Kumar then claimed wickets in successive overs with the new ball, as the South African side struggled to get up to speed, but Duminy led a remarkable revival, finishing unbeaten one run short of his century off 52 balls, as the Cobras completed an astonishing triumph with two deliveries to spare.

The victory had seemed unlikely at the end of the first innings as Uthappa and Taylor – along with Rahul Dravid – were handed reprieves as Andrew Puttick’s side embarrassed themselves with a shoddy performance in the field.

The visitors had begun well enough, snaring Jacques Kallis early on, but opener Uthappa set the tournament alight with a rollicking, if not fluent, performance with the bat.

The local lad was dropped on 18 by Charl Langeveldt, the Cobras fast bowler landing awkwardly on his bowling arm while attempting the catch, the resulting injury ending his spell with the ball.

Uthappa reached his half-century off 38 deliveries but was dismissed immediately after, while the fall of Dravid (28) and Virat Kohli (17) in quick succession opened the door for a Cobras revival.

Taylor’s power hitting at the death, however, with four fours and four sixes helped the home side amass 66 from their last five overs and to what seemed a winning total.

Praveen kept the Challengers on target with two wickets in his first two overs, but Duminy settled in and single-handedly swung the verdict in his team’s favour.

He struck eight boundaries and five sixes, just falling short of an astonishing ton as his team ran out winners. (Eurosport)
ROYAL CHALLENGERS BANGALORE (20 overs maximum)
J. Kallis c wkp. Canning b Langeveldt 8
R. Uthappa c Gibbs b Zondeki 51
R. Dravid run-out 28
V. Kohli stp. Canning b Henderson 17
R. Taylor not out 53
M. Pandey not out 10
Extras: (lb-4, w-9) 13
Total: (4 wkts, 20 overs) 180
Fall of wickets: 1-14, 2-82, 3-97, 4-115.
Bowling: Langeveldt 3-0-12-1 (w-1), Kleinveldt 4-0-45-0 (w-1), Philander 2-0-21-0 (w-1), Zondeki 4-0-39-1 (w-1), Henderson 4-0-34-1, Ontong 3-0-25-0 (w-5)

CAPE COBRAS (target: 181 off 20 overs)
A. Puttick c Kohli b P. Kumar 11
H. Gibbs c wkp. Boucher b P. Kumar 0
H. Davids c Kohli b R.V. Kumar 27
J. Duminy not out 99
J. Ontong b van der Merwe 19
R. Canning c Kumble b P. Kumar 20
R. Kleinveldt not out 5
Extras: (b-1, lb-1, nb-1) 3
Total: (5 wkts, 19.4 overs) 184
Fall of wickets: 1-5, 2-14, 3-62, 4-103 5-164.
Bowling: P. Kumar 4-0-32-3, Kallis 2-0-18-0, R.V. Kumar 3.4-0-40-1, Kumble 4-0-35-0 (nb-1), van der Merwe 4-0-34-1, Kohli 2-0-23-0.
Points: Cape Cobras 2, Royal Challengers Bangalore 0